Saif Ali Khan addressed Karan Johar’s bold statement about stars’ inability to guarantee box office hits, humorously interpreting it as a call to “cut pay cheques.” Speaking at the India Today Mumbai Conclave 2024, Saif shared his thoughts on the economics of the film industry and why star remuneration is a tricky subject.
Responding to Karan’s remark on stars charging Rs 40 crores but failing to bring in even Rs 3.5 crores at the box office, Saif laughed, saying, “He wants to cut pay cheques. I think I should have my own union on that. I am sure he is right, but it makes me a little nervous when we hear about cutting pay cheques. No cutting pay cheques!”
Saif, known for his candid humour, acknowledged the current state of the industry. “The economics of our industry is like that. You go to a star, and sometimes they say, ‘Hey, if you want me, this is what it’s going to cost.’ And people pay it. Sometimes the economics do get skewed. But Indians are businessmen. The film industry is a financial center in itself, and people take shots. But Karan Johar knows best,” Saif added with a smile.
During the conclave, Saif also elaborated on Karan’s concerns, saying, “What Karan is talking about is stars charging astronomical amounts and not delivering, which can’t last for long. We don’t charge that much. We’re recession-proof.”
This follows Karan Johar’s earlier statement at a roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter India, where he discussed stars like Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn delivering underwhelming box office performances despite their high remuneration. Karan shared how he now refuses to pay inflated fees, pointing out, “How can you ask for Rs 40 crore when the budget is Rs 40 crore? There’s no guarantee.”
On the work front, Saif Ali Khan is preparing for the release of Devara: Part 1, in which he plays Bhairava. The film, headlined by Jr NTR, is set to release on September 27 and will also mark Janhvi Kapoor’s debut in Telugu cinema.
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